Tinubu's Administration Faces Heat Over Alleged N210bn Budget Irregularities

Nigeria's former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has come down hard on the administration of President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of reckless financial management. This comes after reports emerged that the 2026 Federal Budget contains duplicated allocations totaling over N210 billion. Atiku, who is also the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made these assertions through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu. He emphasized that such budget irregularities, coupled with the country's poor performance on global prosperity indicators, underscore a failure of leadership rather than a lack of national resources. Atiku argued that the alleged duplication in the budget undermines the credibility of the government's economic reforms, which have required Nigerians to endure significant hardships. These hardships include the removal of fuel subsidies, exchange rate unification, tax increases, and higher tariffs. Atiku questioned how, after subjecting Nigerians to over three years of relentless hardship, the government cannot explain the presence of over N210 billion in duplicated budget provisions. He stressed that any government demanding sacrifices from its citizens must first demonstrate fiscal discipline. The former Vice President further alleged that the latest revelations are part of a recurring pattern of questionable budget practices. These practices include allocations for projects outside the statutory mandates of government agencies and controversial insertions worth billions of naira. Atiku linked the alleged fiscal mismanagement to the country's worsening economic conditions, citing rising living costs, unemployment, business closures, and insecurity. He noted that despite government claims of economic reforms yielding results, many Nigerians continue to struggle. Atiku called for accountability, urging the National Assembly to conduct a comprehensive forensic review of the 2026 Appropriation Act. He also called on the Auditor-General of the Federation, anti-corruption agencies, and civil society organizations to scrutinize the budget and make their findings public. Atiku pledged that, if elected, his administration would introduce transparent budgeting practices, including zero-based expenditure planning and digital public expenditure tracking. He concluded by stating that a nation cannot budget for waste and expect prosperity, and that Nigeria deserves better management of its resources.